‘We’re lovin’ it’, say planning officers, who have approved plans for a 24-hour-a-day, seven days-a-week, drive-through McDonald’s and a Costa Coffee on the A38 at Haldon Hill.

In October, plans were submitted on behalf of TRM Land Promotions Roadside for two new restaurants units, along with a car park, on land near the existing Haldon Hill service station on the A38 on the northbound carriageway.

The application, which Teignbridge District Council planners today approved by a delegated decision, says that McDonald’s and Costa are being lined-up as tenants for the site which is located opposite Exeter Racecourse.

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The site lies directly to the north of the existing Esso petrol station, Spar retail shop, and an American Diner (Route 5), and access to the site will be via the existing slip road to the services and then a new junction that will be created.

The White Hot Chocolate is back as part of a new menu

As well as the drive-through units, a 61-space car park will be created, as will 10 lorry parking bays.

Up to 83 new jobs could be created, with the application stating that a typical drive-through Costa creates 18 full time jobs and a typical McDonald’s drive-through 65 full and part-time jobs.

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Concern had been raised Kenn Parish Council with regard to the increase in traffic this development could generate and the suitability of road access to the site, but planning officers say that no an argument for refusal on the grounds of highway safety concern could be justified.

The application said: “No sequentially preferable sites or units have been identified within or neat the town centre of Chudleigh to accommodate all of the elements of the proposal.

Aerial view of the site with (in red) where the new units would be

"This proposal will deliver immediate economic investment and employment in to Teignbridge, as well as wider economic benefits.”

And the report by planning officers said: “The key policy considerations are the potential for out of centre/town retail development to harm existing or planned investment in a town centre – as well as the potential for the diversion of trade to have an unacceptable impact on trading levels within the centre.

“The nature of drive-through units is significantly different to that of a town centre offer, the majority of trade derives from passer-by trade of people already visiting the area or passing by on major roads.

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“Roadside locations such as the one under consideration are required in order to meet the needs of the travelling public and those utilizing facilities at Haldon.

“Given the good transport links to the site off a trunk road it is considered that the site would be suitable to provide additional roadside units without harming trade in town centres, as the proposed units provide a different offer to those in the town centre they will have no direct impact on the vitality and viability of the nearest centre at Chudleigh.

Big Mac from McDonald's

“The Local Planning Authority is content that given the current state of the vitality and viability of Chudleigh Town Centre overall there is no sequentially preferable site for the proposed development.

“Furthermore, given that these units would derive their customers from the existing passing vehicles, there will be no increase in overall traffic as a result of the proposed development.

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"The proposal also provides an expansion of the existing offer at Haldon Hill Services to meet the needs of road users and those visiting the Haldon area. There are not considered to be any retail policy reasons why the proposal should not proceed.”

The plans for the application, which is for the erection of two new restaurant units (one for flexible use within class A1/A3 and one for flexible use within class A3/A5) including drive-thru lanes, means of access, provision of car parking, landscaping and the formation of a HGV parking area, has been approved.